Inherited sinful nature; free will restored by prevenient grace for response
The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel affirms that all humans inherit a sinful nature from Adam and Eve, the first humans who disobeyed God. This inherited corruption affects the whole person, inclining all toward sin and separation from God. However, the Church affirms that prevenient grace is given to all, which restrains sin, enables moral awareness, and makes genuine response to the gospel possible.
Humans are not totally depraved in the sense of being incapable of response to God's grace. Rather, prevenient grace restores a measure of free will and ability to respond to God's offer of salvation. All humans are sinners and need redemption, but all are enabled by grace to turn toward God. This balance between the reality of sin and the enabling power of grace is characteristic of Arminian theology as held by Foursquare.
Key Distinctions
- Doctrine type:
- qualified total depravity — affected by prevenient grace
- Free will effect:
- given to all; enables genuine moral capacity and response to gospel
Scripture References
Sources
- International Church of the Foursquare Gospel Declaration of Faith
- Foursquare Church teaching on human nature and sin